It's Been Awhile

I have been M.I.A for awhile now. :( So much has been going on (usual). Kids went back to school. Can't believe my oldest is in 2nd grade now and my youngest is in Pre-K!! Aahhh, they aren't really babies anymore, but they will always be my baaaaabies forever and ever, lol. So yeah, school has been going on, my daughter takes ballet classes every Thursday until mid-December...so with school, homework, cooking, baths, ballet classes, play-dates...I am SUPER busy. What mom isn't though! I wanted to share with you all some pics of what's been happening on my end of the woods! Enjoy, and I will be back with more posts!! Love you all, xx

My Home-Made Salad Dressing

I'm baaack! It's been almost a month I think since my last post? This summer has been fun. I keep busy every day by taking my 2 babies out and about...museums, parks, beaches, or we just chill here at my place ;) Can't believe that summer is almost over, eeeeeek! :( My son isn't looking forward to it. He's going into the 2nd grade, so I told him that he really needs to buckle down this year and FOCUS. I don't know how many readers out there have children school aged in the NYC public schools, but this aint a JOKE! Kinda feel bad for him, lol. I don't remember all this craziness when I was his age in school :/ I could go ON and on, but this isn't what this post is for. This post is all about this home-made salad dressing that I make. I don't even buy salad dressing anymore (only if I know that someone is coming over, I will buy one or two). BOTH of my kids LOVE this dressing, they ask for seconds of salad every-time. What parent wouldn't love for their kids to ask for seconds of veggies? :) Okay, so here is what you need. This is SUPER easy and simple. You need: 1. Vinegar 2. Olive Oil (or another oil that you like to use, I prefer OO because its healthier. Other suggestions could be coconut oil, and canola oil) 3. Onion (I use red, but either could work just as well) 4. 1 Clove of Garlic (or buy chopped garlic that they sell in some whole food stores) 4. A small round Tupperware with lid 5. Dicing knife (Any knife will work just fine though. But a dicing one will get garlic and onion thinly sliced to how you want) 6. Spoon So after you gather all those things, start dicing HALF of a onion into fine, thin pieces. Continue to do the same thing to the garlic. The more garlic that you dice up, the more zing the dressing will have. I LOVE zing, so I use a lot of garlic. Okay...so now you should have onion and garlic chopped. Grab that small Tupperware and place chopped onion and garlic in the tub ;) Now...take about 1 1/2 cup of vinegar and pour into the Tupperware. Covering onions and garlic. You can add less or more vinegar depending on how many people will be served. I always eye the amount that I make. Next, add in 1 teaspoon/1 tablespoon of olive oil. Okay, so now all the ingredients are in there =) Take your spoon and stir everything around for about 20 seconds...and you're DONE! So easy, super simple. Depending on how much you make, you can cover this up and save it for tomorrow nights dinner. Here at my place, we have salad almost EVERY night, so I will make enough to save for tomorrow. Let me know if you TRY this at home and how it turns out! Like I said, my hubby and kids love this!! **The picture below is a friend of mine who tried the recipe and posted it and tagged me on FB. So this is thanks to her ;)**

Vinegared Cucumber Dish

I found some FREE time =) Whoot whoot. This is going to be VERY quick because the state of my apartment is offically a disaster zone! 0_o I blame this on my kids, lol. Anyways, whenever I am hungry and I want something light to eat, I ALWAYS find myself making this quick and easy dish. Quick and easy is like 5 minutes MAX. With summer here, my kids out of school (they love this too) I like to make this as a treat OR a veggie side for dinner. Let's get to it... It's vinegared cucumbers!!

ALL you need are the following; 1. 1 or 2 large cucumbers 2. Vinegar 3. Ground Pepper 4. Ground Garlic 5. Ground Onion 5. Tupperware that is LARGE enough to hold cucumbers and vinegar (pref with a lid). 6. Peeler (peel off skin of cucumber) 7. Knife (Veggie cutting knife, if you have) **5 and 6 are OPTIONAL** (You don't need to add chopped onion, I prefer the EXTRA zing. You also don't need to peel off skin of cucumber, BUT I choose to). Okay, FIRST thing first...have all items close by. Wash off cucumber(s) in luke-hot water for 10 seconds. Grab your peeler, and peel of entire skin of cucumber. Rinse again... Grab veggie cutting knife and thinly cut cucumber from front to back. Chop off the front end and back ends though. With Tupperware, add cucumbers and 1 1/2 cup of vinegar. Add in 1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of ground pepper (this depends on your liking). Add in 1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of ground garlic. Add in 1 teaspoon of ground onion (optional). Grab a spoon, and mix the cucumbers, vinegar, pepper, garlic, and onion so that the cucumbers get soaked with all ingredients. Cover up this dish and let sit in refrigerator for 20 minutes-half hour. ENJOY (Sometimes I eat just as is when I'm done with all steps. The more you let sit in the refrigerator , the more taste the cucumbers will have).

Summery and Anytime Nails!

Heyyy =) Can you believe it already June?!? Eeeeeeeeek! I am hardly swim wear ready yet, but its a work in progress. I haven't posted in a couple weeks because I have been hitting the gym hard! You guys don't even know! I have never been more determined in my life to get my hot body back where it once was PRE-kids. I think I will do a mini-post about that in a week, basically to update you on my gym routine, and eating habits! =) Yay!! I wanted to sneak some time in (my hubby took our 3 year old daughter out for some QT together, cutest thing evvvver, so I am home with my 7 year old and he doesn't bother) to do a quick and I mean QUICK post about my 3 colors that I have been rocking on my nails! 2 of them are brand spanking new and one is a older one that I fell back in love with all over again!! Let's get down to business, shall we?!? First up, I purchased "Innocent" and "Unicorn" by Sinful Colors Innocent is this pretty pretty lime green color. Unicorn is a pastel yellow, both are perfect for this summer trend forecast (neon's and pastels) Here is INNOCENT: (Sorry the lighting was off on the last picture) This is UNICORN: As you can see, both Innocent and Unicorn are perfect colors to wear on your nails this summer! This brand of nail polish is CHEAP too! I paid $1.99 each at Walgreen's. You can find Sinful Colors at most major pharmacies =) Last but not least...one of my absolute oldies in my collection, but favorite! I will wear this color year round...it's Revlon's Grey Suede such a PRETTY light grey color. I applied 2 coats of this and made my nails looks as if it were a gel finish! Extra plus! I forget how much I paid for this, but it wasn't more than $7. I purchased this at Target. Here is the look: Well, that's it for now. Told you it was a super quick one!! Maybe I gave someone out there some ideas for some pretty nail colors for summertime and anytime ;) PLEASE check back in a week or so with a detailed post about my go at this weight loss thing! Ughhh ;) Thanks dolls xoxo

Drug-Store HAUL and Review

SO, the other day I headed out to get a few items that I needed, but its so me to always grab an extra item or two =) I grabbed some hair products, skin product, and some make up items. Since I have tried out most of the products that I have purchased already, I decided I should do a mini haul/review! First up, let me start with the hair care products! I have been looking for the right shampoo and conditioner for my hair that doesn't contain all the harsh chemicals that most hair products out there contain. Many of you don't realize that the products you are using, really damage your hair. It's so important to take good care of your hair, which means not buying products that contain sulfate, salt, dyes, and perabens. I came across; RENPURE ORINGIALS Brazilian Keratin Straightening Shampoo and Conditioner.

These products do NOT contain perabens, dyes, salt, and sulfate. I was unsure about this product, but once I washed and conditioned my hair, my hair has never felt so soft. I also used this on my 3 year old daughter's hair. She has hair very similar to mine. Her hair was left soft as well. I give this product a 7.5 out of 10. Each product costs about $5.99. I purchsed mine at Rite Aide. I would purchase this product again! Next, (another hair care product) my mother gave me a sample of Moroccan Oil from her hair stylist. It was a small bottle and I have lots of hair, so needless to say, it did not last long. Moroccan Oil hands down is the best oil for your hair. It leaves your hair feeling so soft, adds moisture with out the greasy look, and gives your hair a nice healthy shine to it. Since I got a FREE sample and ran out, I have been looking around for some or something very similar to Moroccan Oil. However, at the drug store that I was at, they didn't have any, but I did come across; Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil

I used this product (a pea size) in my hair after I washed my hair with the Renpure Brazilian Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner This was amazing. Smells so wonderful and works just as great as Moroccan Oil. Moroccan Oil however to me, smells better. But I think the results were just the same. This is great for using after a wash and conditioner to your hair. Put a pea size in your palm after you have air dried or towel dried your hair, and you can wrap your hair when going to bed with this product on and believe me, your hair will feel so soft the next morning! I purchased this product from Rite Aide for $7.99 Only complaint I have, is its a little over-priced for such a small 3.3 fl oz. Onto skin care! Recently my skin has been so dry. Hate every second of it, especially when I apply make up and my skin looks dry!! Worst thing ever. I have been looking for the perfect moisturizer for my face that is lightweight and lasts all day long. Browsing through the aisle, nothing was popping out to me, until I saw GARNIER Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Lightweight UV-Lotion

At first, I wasn't thrilled about this product. It has a great smell to it, very lightweight like it claims, but when I first applied a pea size to my skin, it kind of felt sticky on my skin. After about 20 minutes of it being on my face, my skin has never felt smoother. I have to try this out more to see if I really see a difference in the 24/hour moisture protection, so come back for a final review on this product! So far so good though =) I purchased this from Rite Aide for $8.49. A little on the pricey side, but I was willing to spend that much on a good moisturizer. There is also lots of product for your bucks ;) My last and final purchase was on make up! I have been hearing about Revlon's Lip Butters for some time now, and really wanted to give them a try. I ended up purchasing two colors; Sugar Plum and Gum Drop. Sugar Plum is a rosy, pinkish reddish color. And Gum Drop is a lavender, glittery color. The lip butters are supposed to be a moisture rich lip color for your lips. However, I wasn't really thrilled about this product. The colors are nice, but I needed to add Maybeline's Baby Lips FIRST before I added Revlon's Lip Butter. So if you are looking for a nice color then by all means go buy this product. But for me, I wasn't exactly happy about paying for a product that says "lip butter" to find out its not exactly how its described. Maybeline's Baby Lips did this all for me. Gave me color and moisturizer all at the same time! I would give this product a 6 out of 10. Would I buy again? Maybe...as long as I knew I had Baby Lips by Maybeline on deck ;)

Okay, that's all for now ladies! I hope that this helped someone out. Any questions or comments please leave down below! Yours Truly, Court xoxo

Another Chapter Closed with a Happy Ending

I am BACK =)!! So, I have been meaning to write this post forever now, but just couldn't find the peace and quiet to do it. Having two kids run around, fighting with each-other is nearly impossible. Good thing I am a vampire and can get this out of the way in the night! Those who have read my past posting about my adoption story will know the 411, if you haven't checked it out, PLEASE do...because none of this will make any sense! Okay, so I am adopted. I was adopted when I was 4 or 5, I think. I had a GREAT child hood growing up and great parents! I was truly blessed. Never went without anything. Fast-forward years, in 2003 when I was about to graduate high school, my parents received a letter from the adoption agency we were adopted from (VA). The letter was from my sister and I's biological mother. In the letter she stated valuable information, such as my sister and I had 3 biological younger sisters who were also adopted. She wrote names. Fantasia, Mallory, and Lauren. That's really all I knew, oh and a location of Frederick, MD. Growing up, I always felt like something was missing, like I wasn't complete. Not sure if all people who are adopted feel that way, or I was just extra. But...I knew I could locate my sisters if I just kept at it and tried. I started searching in 2003 for my sisters. I literally would friend request every Fantasia, Mallory, or Lauren that lived in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, and Virgina). Sounds crazy, but I did. Had no shame about it either. I kept coming onto dead ends. For years I continued searching on and off, I would get frustrated because nothing I was doing would provide any kind of leads. Eventually November of 2011, I re-started the search. Destined to try one more time, after this and no leads, I was going to give up. This was it. I had no help, no faith, on the edge and was going to stop this entire search...until I decided to "Google" (Free Adoption Search) online. I randomly came across the first page and clicked, it asked me to leave some information about my adoption and who I was looking for as well as my info (contact info) and they would contact me back! I thought this was BOGUS. People pay lots of money to have someone locate biological family members. But, I was desperate and willing to give it a shot anyways! Within 20-30 minutes I received a e-mail from a angel named Cher Caldwell on yahoo. We began corresponding and she immediately began my search, still thought there was a catch to this whole process. She started hitting me with back to back e-mails of possible leads. We were up until the wee hours of the morning going back and forth...UNTIL...she sent an e-mail to me with 3 FB pages of 3 girls, named Fantasia Webb, Mallory Webb, and Lauren Webb. She proceeded to tell me that she thinks its them. At that moment when I saw their pictures, I literally just froze up. When you know something is true but you don't want to believe it because you have searched 8 years for them with nothing...I honestly knew it was them but just couldn't believe it. I was shaking, I was crying. I kept saying "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God". I think I tried to phone my sister, Ilana at 3 something in the morning, I ended up FB'ing her. I was in COMPLETE shock! I really was. It took me a minute to calm down, because then...I realized that I was just looking at their page and I was yet friends with none of them. Who knows how they would take me messaging them, who knows if they even knew they were adopted, and who knew if they even knew that they had two other biological sisters? There was no telling. I was going into this blind. I messaged the three of them, saying the exact same thing on Facebook. I didn't get immediate responses back, but I did receive replies within the same day! We all started messaging each other back, except for my one sister Mallory...whom I don't think she knew what was really going on. Messaging turned to phone calls. My sister Lauren actually came for New Years for a visit with her boyfriend! It was so smooth and natural, I felt like we have never missed a beat at all. =) I speak to my sisters regularly! I gained 3 new best-friends!! This experience was truly amazing. I feel blessed. I really do. When I felt like giving up, God was right by my side pushing me to try one more time and he placed Cher Caldwell in my path as an angel. I am forever grateful to her, for helping me out free of charge. She spent her entire night/early morning helping me search. I didn't have to do anything besides give her information which I knew. Anyone reading this, please please don't give up. Keep trying. I can also place you with the woman who helped me on Facebook. She is an amazing woman. I have never believed more in God than I do now. I will be doing an exclusive interview with Cher Caldwell, so look out for that =) Remember, don't ever give up! Keep trying and keep searching. It may be a long, hard search like mine was for 8 years, but nothing in life that is worth it, is never easy! I can finally close this chapter in my life. I found my sisters. I am the oldest of 5 beautiful girls. Courtney, Ilana, Fantasia, Mallory, and Lauren! FINALLY this chapter is now closed! Keep faith... Xoxo, Court

ME- (Born March 9th, 1985 in Winchester, VA)

Ilana- (Born June 16th, 1986 in Winchester, VA)

Fantasia- (Born September 25th, 1988 in Frederick, MD)

Mallory- (Born November 20th, 1989 in Frederick, MD)

Lauren- (Born March 20th, 1990 in Frederick, MD)

I am on Tumblr!

Hey everyone =) It's been a while since my LAST posting. A lot has been going on lately. I have crazy allergies and my youngest (my daughter) suffers the worst. She missed 2 weeks from school because of her allergies. Allergy season has been really bad especially since there hasn't been much rain fall here in the East. So I was going back and forth to the doctors with her due to her allergies. Poor baby! She is doing so much better now and just went back to school this Monday =) Yay! I needed a break too, lol. Anyways, I wanted to UPDATE you all who check me out, I am NEW to Tumblr! IF you are on Tumblr or were thinking about joining, please do and FOLLOW me =) My name on Tumblr is mixedbeauty39.tumblr.com Thanks! Xoxo. Court And HAPPY May!!